Space Force programs supporting Golden Dome see big FY27 budget boost Missile warning and tracking programs, and the emerging Space Data Network being developed to ferry space sensor data to shooters on the ground, in the air and at sea are among the programs seeing huge increases.

Space Force programs supporting Golden Dome see big FY27 budget boost
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/golden-dome-spen...

Trump’s $1.5T defense budget to weather harsh scrutiny on Capitol Hill Operations in Iran, midterm elections and GOP intraparty politics could all complicate the defense budget's path to President Donald Trump's desk.

Trump’s $1.5T defense budget to weather harsh scrutiny on Capitol Hill
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/trumps-1-5t-defe...

How the Army is developing its C2 plans Joseph Welch, the Army's PAE C5ISR, talks with Mark Pomerleau on the Pentagon Buzz this week.

How the Army is developing its C2 plans
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/how-the-army-is-...

Italy set to remove Leonardo CEO, despite major growth The plan to oust Cingolani came only three weeks after the official presented his ambitious 2026-2030 industrial plan in Rome.

Italy set to remove Leonardo CEO, despite major growth
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/italy-set-to-rem...

The uncertain future of the "Jolly Green II".

China’s dual-use ambitions could severely threaten America’s force posture The Pentagon already closely tracks dual-use technology, but The Heritage Foundation's Brent Sadler and Allen Zhang write in this op-ed that it's past time to keep an eye on potential dual-use maritime infrastructure.

China’s dual-use ambitions could severely threaten America’s force posture
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/chinas-dual-use-...

How the Iran conflict might change defense investments in the Gulf The Iran war may fundamentally change how, and with whom, the GCC countries invest their defense dollars going forward.

How the Iran conflict might change defense investments in the Gulf
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/iran-war-defense...

How the Army could spend nearly $19 billion in RDT&E funding The programs taking up the majority of the Army’s RDT&E funding include FLRAA, THAAD, hypersonic weapons, counter drone tech and M-SHORAD.  

How the Army could spend nearly $19 billion in RDT&E funding
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/how-the-army-cou...

BAE Systems trials low-cost counter drone solution for Eurofighter Typhoon https://ow.ly/1jPS50YGtn5

Turkish, Italian defense firms team up to produce unmanned surface vessels for Italy Havelsan, VN maritime and Piloda Defence "are targeting the signing of the first purchase order in the first half of 2026."

Turkish, Italian defense firms team up to produce unmanned surface vessels for Italy
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/turkish-italian-...

As 2-week ceasefire takes hold, Pentagon touts ‘decisive military victory’ “We've destroyed Iran's defense industrial base, their ability to reconstitute those capabilities for years to come,” said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine.

As 2-week ceasefire takes hold, Pentagon touts ‘decisive military victory’
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/as-2-week-ceasef...

AFCENT awards Kraus Hamdani $270M for solar-powered, long-endurance drones The K1000ULE broke endurance records with a three-day flight and has featured in multiple military exercises. “We’ve proven ourselves to the warfighter across multiple AORs,” Kraus Hamdani president Fatema Hamdani told Breaking Defense.

AFCENT awards Kraus Hamdani $270M for solar-powered, long-endurance drones
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/afcent-awards-kr...

Breaking Defense expands editorial staff, with Ben Watson joining as production editor Ben Watson will lead, edit and manage newsletters, social media and special editorial projects.

Breaking Defense expands editorial staff, with Ben Watson joining as production editor
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/breaking-defense...

Details of the $1.5 trillion defense budget request, and a key lawmaker's take on the F-35 - Breaking Defense This week on The Break Out, we've got details on the massive defense budget request.

Details of the $1.5 trillion defense budget request, and a key lawmaker’s take on the F-35 breakingdefense.com/2026/04/deta...

As more nations seek counterspace chops, GPS jamming also rises: Report The Secure World Foundation's annual report also identified a trend towards bodyguard satellites that shadow and defend high-value military and intelligence satellites from adversary attack.

As more nations seek counterspace chops, GPS jamming also rises: Report
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/as-more-nations-...

Italy set to sign off on Turkish TB3 drone order within months, says Baykar CEO Italy is set to become the first European operator of the TB3, beyond Turkey.

Italy set to sign off on Turkish TB3 drone order within months, says Baykar CEO
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/italy-set-to-sig...

Suspect in space? Analysis finds 75 ‘unusual’ moves by Chinese satellites in nearly 10 years The moves by a few Chinese satellites in GEO show patterns of activity that suggest potential military and intelligence missions, the CSIS study asserts.

Suspect in space? Analysis finds 75 ‘unusual’ moves by Chinese satellites in nearly 10 years
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/suspect-in-space...

General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California The company said a mishap occurred “following takeoff” today.

General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/general-atomics-...

Greece inks $750M deal with Israel for Elbit’s PULS Rocket Artillery Systems Greece and Israel have become increasingly close partners in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent years.

Greece inks $750M deal with Israel for Elbit’s PULS Rocket Artillery Systems
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/greece-inks-750m...

Army’s Scarlet Dragon exercise adds commercial data to battlefield data flows “We've had to iterate and figure out what worked, what didn't work, different pathways, different APIs, different cross domain solutions, to find out okay, this is the best one, this is more reliable one, okay, let's turn the spigot on full blast to see what we get," Chief Warrant Officer 4 Sean Benson told Breaking Defense.

Army’s Scarlet Dragon exercise adds commercial data to battlefield data flows
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/armys-scarlet-dr...

DIU wants ‘moving map’ to help aircrews with situational awareness A new prototype platform sought by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit could significantly boost situational awareness for users like mobility aircrews, whose decades-old aircraft often lack modern communications equipment.

DIU wants ‘moving map’ to help aircrews with situational awareness
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/diu-wants-moving...

US F-15E fighter jet downed by Iran, rescue operations underway The loss of an American fighter jet over Iran would appear to be the first manned American aircraft downed over Iran during Operation Epic Fury.

US F-15E fighter jet downed by Iran, rescue operations underway
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/us-f-15e-fighter...

For acquisition reform to succeed, the Pentagon needs civilian agency budget flexibilities Secretary Pete Hegseth’s push for faster, more commercial defense acquisition will fall short unless Congress also gives the Pentagon the flexible budget authorities already available to civilian agencies, Bill Greenwalt writes.

For acquisition reform to succeed, the Pentagon needs civilian agency budget flexibilities
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/for-acquisition-...

Marine Corps awards Textron, General Dynamics second rapid ARV prototype contract The Marine Corps is seeking an ARV “family of vehicles” for the program, each outfitted with unique capabilities to support mobile reconnaissance.

Marine Corps awards Textron, General Dynamics second rapid ARV prototype contract
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/marine-corps-awa...

ST Engineering to serve as subcontractor for Kuwaiti navy vessels deal The contract is valued at 600 million Singapore dollars (467.6 million USD).

ST Engineering to serve as subcontractor for Kuwaiti navy vessels deal
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/st-engineering-t...

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Pentagon awards Pratt & Whitney $6.6 billion for F-35 engines A contract award covers engines for two upcoming batches of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production.

Pentagon awards Pratt & Whitney $6.6 billion for F-35 engines
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/pentagon-awards-...

Pentagon, Boeing announce plan to triple Patriot PAC-3 seeker production The deal follows a similar seven-year framework agreement with PAC-3 prime Lockheed Martin, announced in January, to expand interceptor production.

Pentagon, Boeing announce plan to triple Patriot PAC-3 seeker production
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/pentagon-boeing-...

Honeywell, Odys Aviation team up on airborne C-UAS program The system will pair Honeywell’s Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept (SAMURAI) system with Odys’ Laila aircraft to defend from unmanned drone threats.

Honeywell, Odys Aviation team up on airborne C-UAS program
breakingdefense.com/2026/04/honeywell-odys-a...

What NATO wants most, and how Breaking Defense is expanding in Europe - Breaking Defense It's all about Europe this week on The Weekly Break Out.

What NATO wants most, and how Breaking Defense is expanding in Europe breakingdefense.com/2026/03/what...